Megliola: Shaq plays the new Garden

Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal. Big name, big man. It was impossible to cut him down to size on the basketball court. The guy's so dominating and frighteningly powerful. The only thing they could chop down to size was what they'd call him.

By Lenny Megliola/Daily News staff

MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

By Lenny Megliola/Daily News staff

Posted Jan. 20, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 20, 2009 at 8:04 PM

By Lenny Megliola/Daily News staff

Posted Jan. 20, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 20, 2009 at 8:04 PM

BOSTON

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Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal. Big name, big man. It was impossible to cut him down to size on the basketball court. The guy's so dominating and frighteningly powerful. The only thing they could chop down to size was what they'd call him.

Shaq.

He accepted it. Who'd be nuts enough to call him a name he didn't like?

He has name recognition even with people who aren't interested in the NBA. They might not know who he plays for, but the name - the nickname - has become part of the American lexicon.

Shaq.

He was in town last night with the Phoenix Suns, to meet up with the Celtics. With Kendrick Perkins still out with a sore shoulder, Boston coach Doc Rivers was asked before the game who would cover O'Neal. "All of us," was his response. Well, maybe three of four guys, taking turns. Kevin Garnett would be first. "Kevin can use his quickness against Shaq, because he's not going to use his power."

Shaq and Garnett have been around for a long time, but guarding each other hasn't been a common thing. "Every now and then." said Shaq. "Not for a whole game."

Who'd guard Shaq the most became a moot point when the Celtics won breezily, 104-87. All you have to know is Boston was up 87-58 when the fourth quarter began. Not one starter from either team played in the last 12 minutes. That almost never happens, folks.

Shaq was asked what he thought of the Celtics. "Champs," he said, reflecting on last season. "They did it the right way. Three superstars jelling. Hats off to the three Boston amigos. ... They reminded me of the old Celtics teams."

Even without James Posey, Shaq feels the Celtics haven't missed a beat, with Powe, Brian Scalabrine and "my son, 'Big Baby,"' coming off the bench.

A few minutes later I said to Davis, 'Guess what Shaq just called you."'

"His illegitimate son?" Close. Actually, Shaq has six kids by three women.

If he had his way, Davis might have stayed on the bench all night and watched Shaq and Garnett go at it. "They were the only two players I watched growing up," said Davis.

Shaq had 16 points and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes. Garnett finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. But nobody was counting after halftime (64-34, Celtics).

Shaq is not one of those super-luminaries who would spend a career with one team. Even Michael (another one-namer fits all) didn't do that. The Larry Birds, Carl Yastrzemskis, Al Kalines, Cal Ripkens, one-city stop guys, are pretty much history. The Suns are Shaq's fourth team, preceded by Orlando, the Lakers and Miami. He was traded to Phoenix last February for Shawn Marion and ex-Celtic Marcus Banks, Banks's only claim to fame, something to tell the grandkids.

Page 2 of 2 - Shaq is 36 now. At 7-foot-1, 300 and (fill in the blank) pounds, he's a scary, immovable force, yet when he speaks it's often in a whisper, like an opera diva going easy on the vocal cords. But divas don't have arms that should be registered as lethal weapons.

His side-of-a-building body isn't the only thing big about him. So are his numbers. His career scoring average is 25.6, ninth-best in NBA history. His shooting percentage, 58 percent, is third-best ever. But you know the story. The man does not stray more than arm's length from the hoop. When he gets to the foul line, all bets are off. On Christmas Day, he missed his 5000th free throw. Only Wilt Chamberlain had done that.

But, not many players have four championship rings like Shaq. He was Rookie of the Year in 1993, and league MVP in 2000.

It's a lock that the Suns will finish behind the Lakers in the Pacific Division. "There are a lot of great teams in the (Western Conference)," said Shaq. "We've got to get some consistency. We've let a lot of games slip away."

Last night's game didn't slip away. It was never a game. Boston's biggest lead was 35.

It seems like Shaq has lived two lives, one on the court, the other almost anywhere else, in full view. He's been a rapper, a dancer, in movies, in commercials. He penned his autobiography. There's even a third life, personal and private. He's never had any contact with his biological father, James Toney, who did time because of drugs and wasn't around when Shaq was growing (and growing) up. Shaq was raised by his mother, Lucille, and an Army guy who he calls his father.

He answers the idea of retirement this way. "My goal was to end all of my contracts." This one runs out next season.

And when he finally walks away, what will he do then? "Nothing. You'll never see me again."

Sorry, Shaq. They don't make caves that big.

(Lenny Megliola is a Daily News columnist. His e-mail is lennymegs@aol.com.)